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The Strong Woman's Path to Stability
墨書 Inktalez
In the fourth year of Qingli, winter arrived, blanketing the Forbidden City in a layer of snow overnight. The Red Walls and Green Tiles, along with the Liuli Golden Roof, lay beneath a pristine white cover, resembling a melancholic painting.
As the eastern horizon began to blush with dawn, the maids in Chuxiu Palace started their busy routines.
"Your Highness, you’re up quite early today."
The maid Chun Qiu hurried into the inner chamber, gently stoking the charcoal fire and lifting the canopy at Minjin's bedside, letting it drape down on either side.
"It’s freezing in the capital, and this bed is so hard; I’m still not used to it," Minjin replied, rolling her eyes at her maid as she slipped her small feet into the silk shoes Chun Qiu offered, unable to hold back her complaints.
Chun Qiu smiled softly and said, "I’ll bring you some extra blankets later, Your Highness. That way, you won’t feel so uncomfortable."
As she spoke, she took a ceremonial robe from one of the attendants and carefully helped Minjin dress. Afterward, she handed her a porcelain cup for rinsing.
"Where did His Majesty spend the night yesterday?" Minjin casually asked after spitting out the mouthwash into a small golden basin.
Chun Qiu paused momentarily while fastening Minjin's buttons. After a long silence, she slowly replied, "Yongfu Palace."
"Again at Yongfu Palace? His Majesty is truly infatuated," Minjin said with another roll of her eyes, pouting as she sat before the bronze mirror while Chun Qiu continued to fuss with her hair.
"You needn’t worry, Your Highness; His Majesty will come to see you," Chun Qiu reassured her when she noticed the melancholy in Minjin's expression.
"Yes, he will come. If only Consort Chang would die, he would surely come," Minjin murmured softly to herself.
Though she knew from the start that the Emperor had someone he cherished, she had naively believed that she could win both his heart and his affections.
On the day of her wedding, the Kun Ning Palace was adorned with splendor and festivity. She sat on the bridal bed, holding jade scepter, filled with joy as she awaited the Emperor. However, he merely lifted her red veil casually, took a sip of the wedding wine from the table, and hurriedly left.
She knew that the Emperor was a rare beauty in the world, yet he was too indifferent towards her.
Later, she learned that Consort Chang had cried throughout the night, prompting the Emperor to rush back to comfort her. For this reason, she was mocked by others in the palace for quite some time.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't speak carelessly. You grew up in Mongolia and are straightforward by nature, but the Forbidden City is not like your homeland. Speaking too freely can cost you your life," Chun Qiu exclaimed, startled by her words, quickly making a gesture for silence.
Once she saw that Minjin had finally stopped talking, she relaxed and gently offered some guidance.
"That's why I dislike this place; everything feels so constrained," Minjin said abruptly as she stood up, brushing aside Chun Qiu's hands that were still trying to adjust her Phoenix Hairpin, and walked straight out.
"Your Majesty, you cannot refer to yourself as 'I' in the palace..."
"I am indeed 'this palace,' I've heard it so many times my ears are sore," Minjin retorted, unable to tolerate Chun Qiu's daily nagging any longer. She ordered her not to follow and dashed out of Palace of Gathered Elegance.
Stepping onto the thick layer of snow beneath her feet, Minjin wandered aimlessly forward. The crunching sound underfoot slightly eased her restless thoughts.
Just as she was about to enter a long pavilion, she spotted Consort Chang approaching in a striking red mink robe.
"Your Majesty, good fortune," Consort Chang greeted her promptly upon seeing her, bowing deeply. The dark hairpin adorned with green pearls accentuated her delicate beauty even more.
"Get up. You look quite pale; why are you so weak?" Minjin observed her wan and petite face with displeasure and waved her hand to let her rise.
“Your Majesty,” she said, her face pale and sickly, dampening the Consort's spirits. “I beg for your forgiveness, Empress.”
Consort Chang trembled, as if about to kneel again. Her delicate appearance would evoke pity in anyone who saw her.
“Seeing you like this truly kills the mood,” Minjin remarked, casting a sidelong glance at her. The tone was neither warm nor cold, leaving Consort Chang feeling quite embarrassed.
Outside the pavilion, the cold wind howled, scattering a tree full of white plum blossoms, making it hard to tell whether it was snow or petals falling.
Beside her, Consort Chang, already frail, was blown by the wind and quickly grabbed a silk handkerchief to cover her mouth as she prepared to sneeze.
“Women in the capital are so delicate; a gust of wind can knock them down, and they sneeze at the slightest breeze?” Minjin mocked dryly, reaching out provocatively to snatch the handkerchief from her hands. With a flick of her wrist, it fluttered down into the lake.
“Oh no, my handkerchief!” Consort Chang exclaimed, reaching out to grab the handkerchief that had been blown away.
Minjin was startled by her reaction. Could a mere handkerchief cause such panic? The sound of it hitting the water snapped her back to reality.
“Your Highness!” palace maid beside Consort Chang shouted in alarm.
Just as Minjin smirked darkly at the scene, a flash of bright yellow leapt from the opposite bank and dove into the water.
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